Sleep tight: Low-cost AirAsia X offers flatbed seats

The US has a lot of great low-cost carriers. Between Southwest’s “Bags Fly Free” convenience, JetBlue’s occasional $10 fares, and Virgin America’s in-flight entertainment, US travelers have quite a few options when it comes to flying for less. What we don’t have in them however, are beds.

Low-cost carrier AirAsia X reveals its lie-flat beds on long-haul flights. The seats completely recline and boast more legroom, a reading light and a universal power socket for electronics. On board, passengers are brought a pillow and blanket, a meal and mineral water.

You also get a preferred seat assignment, the ability to board at your leisure and a premium check-in lane at the airport. Furthermore, once you land, you get to receive your baggage first. All this is for a fraction of what legacy carriers like Delta and United charge.

Baggage allowances aren’t fantastic, and there aren’t other luxurious amenities that sometimes go along with larger airlines, but for the long-haul traveler that’s looking for comfort on a budget, this is the perfect remedy to an uncomfortable sleep on a red-eye.

One way fares from London to Kuala Lumpur (weekly flights begin in November) start at $961.

Pleasance is a British travel writer and online content specialist in travel. She has written for numerous publications and sites including Wired, Lucky, Rough Guides and Yahoo! Travel. After working for six years on content and social media at VisitBritain, she is now the Global Content and Social Media Manager for Cheapflights.